R2-D2 feels the parcel force

About 400 post boxes in the US are being treated to a new intergalactic look after being remodelled as the Star Wars character R2-D2.

The mail boxes celebrate the 30th anniversary of the first Star Wars film in 1977. According to the BBC, one of the handy droids is positioned outside of one of the first cinemas to ever screen the film: the Grauman Chinese Theatre in Hollywood.

Anita Bizzotto, chief marketing office at the US post office, told the Associated Press: "It's a little teaser for the upcoming announcement and we decided to have a little fun with it.

"When you look at a mailbox, the resemblance to R2-D2 is too good to pass up."

The Postal Service noted that no one should tamper with the mail boxes, but could look at them and post a letter.

R2-D2 was the brave half of a droid pairing involving his fellow robot C-3PO, who both starred in the original trilogy as well as the three prequels that have followed.